Taking out the competition: volcano monitoring, Jindal and Palin

What does Bobby Jindal have against volcano monitoring? The stimulus bill funds the USGS for "repair, construction and restoration of facilities; equipment replacement and upgrades including stream gages, and seismic and volcano monitoring systems; national map activities; and other critical deferred maintenance and improvement projects."

Since Jindal doesn't take objection to seismic (earthquake) monitoring, he's presumably okay with money being spent in California. So, what's up with volcano monitoring.? Well ... Sarah Palin's state of Alaska relies on volcano monitoring:

Recent research shows that Alaska has more than 130 volcanoes that have been active in the last two million years -- and more than 50 that have been active since 1760, about 10 more than scientists were aware of two decades ago. About two of them erupt each year.

Now Redoubt is at center stage, and every breath it takes is carefully monitored. Nine seismographic stations have been positioned around its flanks and the surrounding terrain. Data from three of them can be observed 24 hours a day by anyone with computer access to the Internet.

So, perhaps Jindal's trying take out his main 2012 competition in more ways than one!